System and method for mobile drilling machine
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsSandy Wayne Pyke, Virajkumar Gohil
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A power generator of a drill string of a mobile machine includes a thermal electric generator positioned along the drill string, the thermal electric generator configured to generate power using a portion of bailing air flowing through the drill string, the portion of the bailing air being diverted to the thermal electric generator; and one or more components positioned along the drill string, the one or more components configured to receive power generated by the thermal electric generator.
Claims20
A power generator of a drill string of a mobile machine, comprising:
- a thermal electric generator positioned along the drill string, the thermal electric generator configured to generate power using a portion of bailing air flowing through an interior of the drill string, the portion of the bailing air being diverted to the thermal electric generator, wherein the thermal electric generator is configured to generate power based on a temperature differential between separated streams of the diverted portion of the bailing air before returning the portion of the bailing air back to the interior of the drill string and
- one or more components positioned along the drill string, the one or more components configured to receive power generated by the thermal electric generator.
A thread saver assembly for a drill string, comprising:
- a thread saver body including a top section, a bottom section, and an intermediate section between the top and bottom sections;
- a power generator assembly comprising a thermal electric generator positioned within or on a sidewall of the intermediate section and a mixing conduit, the thermal electric generator configured to generate power using a portion of bailing air flowing through the thread saver body, the portion of bailing air being diverted into the thermal electric generator, and the mixing conduit configured to mix separated streams of the diverted bailing air before returning the mixed bailing air back into the thread saver body;
- and
- one or more components positioned within or on the thread saver body, the one or more components configured to receive power generated by the thermal electric generator.
A method of generating power, comprising:
- diverting a portion of bailing air flowing through an interior of a drill string and through a thermal electric generator positioned in or on the drill string;
- generating power with the thermal electric generator;
- mixing separated streams of the diverted bailing air, after generating power, prior to returning the mixed bailing air back to the interior of the drill string;
- and
- transmitting power to one or more components positioned in the drill string.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.